Search

My Other Blog

My NYT Bestseller!

What's a Wreck?

A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.

During the celebration of Passover, it's traditional for participants to avoid all types of leavening, like yeast. In fact, you could say this is one of the most important, key features of the entire celebration.

So maybe someone should tell these bakers.

Let's hope it ages well.

Now, before I start an Epcot here: yes, there *are* flour-less Passover cakes and pastries.

But I'm pretty sure this isn't one of them:

And if there's time, Google "Passover."

And then return that Wonders of the Pyramids gift book.

During Passover there is a special dinner called the Seder, which is used to recount the Exodus story and teach the younger generations. It is very Jewish. By which I mean, if you're *not* Jewish, or of the Jewish faith, then you're probably not celebrating the Seder. And, at least to my knowledge, there are no Buddhist Seders or New Age Seders or Ed Hardy Seders; Jews pretty much have a corner on the Seder market.

Why do I bring this up?

Well...

Yeeeah.

Hey, is this like wishing someone a "Merry Christian Lent"?

'Cuz I'm totally doing that now.(Although, all things being equal, maybe I should write it on a chocolate bar.)

Thanks to today's Wreckporters Evelyn G., Amy K., & Alana M. for getting a rise out of these Wrecks.

Update from john: [rubbing temples] To those of you currently chilling in the Epcot Bunker™, yes, anyone can make a lovely Seder. Apparently there are [insert comment count here] non-Jews doing so.

Love the blog, always gives me a good laugh. Our church does a Seder and it's certainly nothing like a real, meaning Jewish, Seder. So I suppose the term Jewish Seder could be useful to make that distinction.

And now I know what an Epcot is after reading the FAQ.

I'm curious what all those deleted posts said. Were they really inappropriate or did John and Jen just enjoying deleting every dimwit who decided to point out the cakes were photoshopped?

Actually, and don't get me wrong, I looooove this blog and the both of you, but pointing out that you're wrong all the time is really very nice of us. Because no one likes being wrong, right?! You're welcome for enriching your lives through our comments on your blog. <3

There are definitely flourless cakes and pastries for Passover, but let me tell you, most of those cakes are "wrecked" long without any icing, sprinkles, etc at all. They taste awful! (Then again, there are some amazing ones from actual bakeries in New York City and other cities.)

@Marama,

All leavened products aren't allowed. Flour can rise if care isn't taken so it is generally not used. (Matzo is used with special flour and baked in a short time so that it doesn't rise.) Most Passover cakes use potato-based flour replacements.

I love Cake Wrecks! I have to say, I love Epcots! I learn so much. I'm not ashamed to say, sometimes I don't get the jokes, so people who others think are stating the obvious, are actually helping! I have learned about Epcot, King cakes, Passover, all sorts of things! Keep the Epcots coming!:-) And once I get the joke, I can laugh too, not just nervously giggle in the hope that no one notices my ignorance.Thanks Jen, John and #1!

I suspect that the confusion and apparent arbitrary-ness (is that a word?) of the Passover leavening restrictions are because the rules were established long before M. Pasteur started looking at things under microscopes. Thus the sourdough leavening of grains and some pulses would seem to be a totally different phenomenon from the fermenting of wine, even though the actual yeasts and bacteria involved overlap considerably. And both would probably appear to arise spontaneously from the basic ingredients, so leavening was seen as an innate process rather than as something you added. It makes perfect sense if you look at it with a pre-modern understanding of biological processes.

I do know some UK jews who try to stick to the "spirit" of the rules as they see them: eating modern-technique non-leavened baked goods, but refusing wine or vinegar. Of course, this then annoys the people who follow the very strict letter of the rules about flour, but drink wine as part of the traditional ceremonies. Then you get the argument about whether beating eggs for a cake (or creaming butter and sugar) is permissable, or is just sneaky barracks-lawyering. It makes trying to provide food for a group containing both sides very ... interesting. Especially if your party includes vegetarians and people with serious allergies as well. My fall-back was normally vegan-something (but watching out for nut and seed allergies) with mashed potatoes, and fruit for dessert.

ok sorry I know noones gonna read this, but as a pastry chef I have to correct this. Flour is NOT a leavening agent. it is NOT outlawed for passover or anything else. And technically an instant chemical leavener such as baking soda and baking powder would not conflict with the idea behind unleavened bread- to be ready to leave at any moment, not to wait for the bread to rise but be able to bake it immediately. therefore technically a cookie or a cake probably wouldn't have been wrong had such ingredients existed in biblical times. As long as those things arent made with yeast it wouldn't pose a problem.